Ratings: NBA Finals Set Game 1 Record for ABC, Draws 19.2 Million Viewers

The Golden State Warriors’ 104-89 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night delivered a 12.9 overnight rating and 23 share in metered-market households, edging out last year’s NBA Finals opener (12.9/20) to mark ABC’s best prelim numbers for a Game 1 since it started hosting the hoops championship in 2003.

FINAL UPDATE: In the Nielsen finals, game a delivered 19.2 million total viewers and a 7.3 demo rating, topping last years Warriors/Cavs opener, which did 17.8 mil and a 6.9. It thus stands as the most watched Game 1 in ABC’s coverage history as well as the highest-rated, besting 2004’s Pistons/Lakers tipoff (which held the previous record of 7.0).